Tricare and Eating Disorder Treatment

Center For Discovery has a long history as a preferred in-network provider with

Verification of Benefits

Our benefits department will contact Tricare on your behalf in order to verify your coverage and share of cost. Because you are insured with Tricare, your out of pocket cost will likely be less than you would spend at an out of network facility. Most plans include residential, partial hospitalization (day treatment), and intensive residential coverage and may be covered at 100% or include a co-pay.

Do I have an eating disorder?

Does my loved one have an eating disorder?

Do I have an eating disorder?

Does my loved one have an eating disorder?

Eating Disorder Treatment and TRICARE Coverage

Eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa, have the highest fatality rate out of any mental health disorder and can result in severe complications. The three most well known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, which are generally characterized by extremely abnormal eating habits, self-induced purging, and severe body image distortion. Each of these disorders have there own specific diagnostic criteria and related symptoms. Treatment for these disorders involve a multidisciplinary approach meaning there are multiple treatment regimens that are used to treat every aspect of the specific disorder from psychotherapy approaches, diet and nutritional counseling, social support and pharmacological therapy. Depending on the type of disorder and the extent of the severity, levels of care can vary from inpatient hospital treatment to outpatient therapy. Anorexia carries the most extreme complications and has the highest mortality rate and therefore it tends to involve more intense treatment approaches than either bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder.

Pharmacological treatment approaches for eating disorders

Medications are generally not used to treat eating disorders, especially for anorexia nervosa, however selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants, have been shown to be effective in treating both bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is the only known SSRI approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. When fluoxetine is not tolerated, other SSRIs as well as other selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) used to treat depression can be used to treat these disorders as alternative therapies.

Psychotherapy treatments for eating disorders

Psychotherapy is the mainstay treatment approach for treating anorexia and bulimia nervosa as well as binge-eating disorder and include the following:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

Group therapy

Family-based therapy (FBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the first-line treatment approach in anorexia and bulimia nervosa as well as binge-eating disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy encompasses multiple techniques that focus on identifying and challenging negative automatic thoughts and behaviors and using techniques to reinforce positive behaviors and cognition. Distorted or maladaptive thoughts regarding food and body image are initially identified and addressed in order to allow better insight and understanding of the underlying triggers associated with these thoughts. Both the patient and therapist must recognize these thoughts and when and why they occur in order for behavioral change to take place. Behavioral approaches to recognizing and eliminating maladaptive thoughts associated with body weight include food journaling, exploring the underlying irrational beliefs regarding the individual’s self-esteem, learning to differentiate between certain emotional feelings and maintaining a written log of thoughts and resulting feelings.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) addresses specific areas within the individual that cause the maladaptive thoughts, perceptions and behaviors. Recognizing interpersonal conflicts, conflicts with others, grief and stress can help change the maladaptive thoughts and work to improve mood and self-esteem.

Nutrition and dietary treatment approaches for eating disorders

Nutritional deficiencies are extremely common in both anorexia and bulimia nervosa and the average individual is lacking key nutrients, electrolytes and vitamins such as calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphate and potassium. It is extremely important to be careful when introducing electrolytes and food back into the diet for an individual with anorexia nervosa, as re-feeding syndrome is a lethal complication. Re-feeding syndrome occurs when an individual with anorexia nervosa undergoes starvation-induced depletion of phosphate, magnesium and potassium resulting in cardiovascular collapse after feeding is initiated in the early stages of nutritional management. In order to prevent this, electrolyte repletion must be taken very seriously and caloric intake must occur at gradual increases overtime. For individuals not at risk of re-feeding syndrome, a dietitian or a nutritionist should be consulted to help devise a structured meal plan that encompasses the correct ratio of food groups and caloric intake. Adequate nutritional intake can curb binge and purge cravings and satisfy satiety.

TRICARE health coverage at Center For Discovery

TRICARE is a health program for uniformed serve members and their families as well as National Guard and reserve members. Mental health disorders and eating disorders are prevalent among all individuals including those who have served and currently serve in the armed services of the United States. Center For Discovery supports the United States armed forces and works hard to deliver the best treatment to each individual. Center For Discovery is in network with TRICARE, TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Standard.
Center For Discovery and TRICARE work together to provide the following treatment programs:

Residential eating disorder treatment

Mental health treatment for teenagers

Adult residential treatment (single case agreement)

Adult intensive outpatient care (single case agreement)

Adult partial hospitalization (single case agreement)

Mental Health Treatment and TRICARE coverage

Self-harm and cutting treatment overview

Cutting is a form of self-harm behavior that is deliberately used to inflict pain on oneself secondary to severe underlying emotional distress. Cutting is often practiced to relieve the mental anguish brought on by the deep underlying issues. This self-harm behavior can be made into a ritualistic practice and after it is performed feelings of guilt and self-pity arise once again resulting in a viscous cycles of emotional self-abuse. There is no “one size fits all” treatment approach for cutting or any other type of self-harm behavior but rather this behavior is treated on an individual basis. Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy”, is the first-line overall approach to treating individuals who cut. There are many forms of psychotherapy and some forms may work better than other for certain individuals. In general psychotherapy approaches work to address the following:

Identify and manage underlying issues that trigger cutting

Learn skills to better manage distress

Learn how to regulate and cope with unhealthy emotions

Learn how to improve self-image and self-esteem

Develop skills to improve relationships and social skills

Develop healthy problem-solving skills

Depression treatment overview

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a type of depressive disorder that affects more than 15 million adults in the United States and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for individuals 15-44 years of age. Depressive disorders are characterized under mood disorders and cause severe symptoms that affect how one thinks, feels, and interacts with others. This can result in extreme unhappiness in every aspect of an individual’s life resulting in potential turmoil in the workplace, in the home and in personal relationships with others. Depression is a multifactorial mood disorder meaning that many causes contribute to this disorder such as genetic factors and major life stressors. Children who have lost a parent before 10 years of age have an increase risk of depression later in life. Additional factors such as poor parent-child relationships and substance abuse are also known to increase the risk of developing depression. Antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are known as the first-line treatment for depression in adults and teens. The following are psychotherapy approaches used to also treat depression in conjunction with medication.

Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT): Similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy but also includes mindfulness and stress reduction techniques.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Works to recognize the inner conflicts within oneself. Identifies conflict within personal relationships and inner feelings associated with self-esteem. Techniques that involve building relationships, learning coping mechanisms, and developing conflict resolution skills can help diminish these triggers and form positive insight in future conflicts.

Anxiety disorder treatment overview

Anxiety disorders consist of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, panic disorder and agoraphobia and are characterized by an intense state of worry and fear resulting from a threatening event or life stressor. Anxiety can be normal in cases of everyday stress or serious life stressors and individuals usually overcome this worry once the stressor dissipates however in individuals with anxiety disorder, their state of worry becomes more intensified over time. Anxiety disorders can be treated with a combination of pharmacological therapy and psychotherapy. Studies have shown that when used in combination versus alone, both of these treatments can have faster clinical outcomes with longer lasting effects. The two classes of pharmacological therapy used to treat anxiety disorders are antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Psychotherapy used to treat anxiety disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and applied relaxation are well-known first-line therapy approaches.

TRICARE health coverage at Center For Discovery

TRICARE is a health program for uniformed serve members and their families as well as National Guard and reserve members. Mental health disorders and eating disorders are prevalent among all individuals including those who have served and currently serve in the armed services of the United States. Center For Discovery supports the United States armed forces and works hard to deliver the best treatment to each individual. Center For Discovery is in network with TRICARE, TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Standard.

Center For Discovery and TRICARE work together to provide the following treatment programs:

Residential eating disorder treatment

Mental health treatment for teenagers

Adult residential treatment (single case agreement)

Adult intensive outpatient care (single case agreement)

Adult partial hospitalization (single case agreement)

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